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Commentary on "The Road to Faith"

PATRIA RECTOR

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, November 5, 2011 - Introduction

 

The commentator of this section begins by quoting Galatians 3:22. The author uses this verse to hypothesize that the Law is necessary even when we believe in Jesus Christ. To be clear, the Law in this passage is referring to the entire system of Law encapsulated within the Old Covenant (Torah). The Law includes, but is not limited to the 10 commandments.

Contrary to what the author is hypothesizing, the opposite is actually true. In Galatians 3:1-5, Paul teaches believers to fully trust Christ (faith) to complete their salvation after their initial conversion, just as they did at their conversion. Verse 1 has strong language which calls the idea of law keeping "foolish". He says those who believe this are "bewitched", a word that means "to slander, to speak ill of, or to be charmed". In other words, whoever was teaching that believers must keep the Law were not out for the good of the people.

Paul is saying that keeping the Law is contrary to faith. The Gospel is not dependent on the Law, in fact, Paul says that because of the work of the Holy Spirit, Law keeping is equivalent to acting in the "flesh". Flesh, in this passage means that which I do apart from the Spirit of God. It does not mean sin nature. When we become believers, we are new creations, created in Christ Jesus to the glory of God. We have no more sin nature, but we do have the ability to act "in the flesh", to act apart from the Spirit of God. Or, we can live by the Spirit. Before we accept Jesus as our only way to salvation, we are under the curse of the Law, and if, after we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we choose to continue keeping the Law, then we are putting ourselves under a system that has been fulfilled. Jesus Christ is the only and complete way to salvation.

So, for today, the opening memory verse is Galatians 3:22:

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (NASB)

Keeping in mind the beginning of Galatians 3 (that faith and Law are contrary to one another), read

Galatians 3:22 in its context:

21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (NASB)

Here again, Paul is teaching that Law and faith are contrary to one another. He even goes so far as to say that the faith we have now was "shut up" until it was to be later revealed. It's true that everyone who is or will be in heaven, has been justified by faith, however faith was not fully known or realized until God made Himself known to us through Jesus Christ.

The Law was a tutor that led to Jesus Christ. Verse 25:

"But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor."

In the days to come, we'll continue to explore the truth that faith in Jesus Christ, given by the grace of God, the Father, is sufficient to save, once and for all.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised November 5, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 7

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 7

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Wk 7

SSNET Study Guide Week 7

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

 

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